As the year comes to a close, we would just like to take a moment and thank you for your support throughout 2014. Your support means so much and helps us accomplish our mission of saving lives of those living with and struggling with seizures. The need is huge and your support and generosity is instrumental in allowing Chelsea Hutchison Foundation to continue making a difference in the lives of children and adults living with Epilepsy. To date, we have had the honor of providing 67 service dog grants.

Enjoy seeing the faces of some of those who have benefited from your support.

If you are looking to make that end-of-year donation for tax purposes, we would be honored to accept it.

The Chelsea Hutchison Foundation is so excited to announce that we have just paid our 66th grant for a seizure-response dog. This is possible, in part, because of your generous support of our project. We work hard everyday as the numbers of requests multiply each day.

We gathered across the United States (6 locations) in September to STOMP Out Epilepsy and SUDEP. Organized walks took place in Colorado, Texas, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri and Virginia. In addition, we had many virtual walkers join us that weekend from all over - even had some walkers in Canada. This was our 5th Annual STOMP (formerly called Chelsea's Epilepsy Walk for SUDEP Awareness).

On November 6th, we were lucky enough to be able to send 10 families to Epilepsy Awareness Day at Disneyland Resort 2014 because of one very special donor. We took nominations and then randomly drew 5 single-parent families and 5 families who live with seizures and epilepsy. This event was life-changing for these families and life-long friendships were made. Community support is so important withe the isolation and misunderstandings that go along with this neurological disorder. Chelsea Hutchison Foundation was asked to be a National Co-Host of this event and we were thrilled to be. Approximatley 1500 people gathered that day to raise awareness and show support.

Thank you for your continued support! When you donate to CHF, know that the funds we receive help families directly!

On July 16, 2014, ten families dealing with epilepsy or seizure-related illnesses were awarded all-expense paid trips to the 2014 Epilepsy Awareness Day at Disneyland on November 5- 7, 2014, compliments of The Chelsea Hutchison Foundation and one very generous anonymous donor. Nominees were gathered through the Chelsea Hutchison Foundation, and winners were selected through a random draw.

The award winners are the Pfier family from Mobile, AL; the Burnette family from Hardinsburg, KY; the Bergstrom family from Douglas, MA; the Borel family from Port Arthur, TX; the Nelson family from Eden Prairie, MN; the Varnell family from Ft. Carson, CO; the Luna family from Hammond, IN; the Rudisaile family from Aurora, CO; the Weigand family from New Philadelphia, OH; and the Lyles family from Peyton, CO.

The 2014 Epilepsy Awareness Day at Disneyland is held in honor of Mattel Children’s Hospital UCLA, The Chelsea Hutchison Foundation, and the Danny Did Foundation. Award winners will attend the kick-off event on November 5 to learn more services, organizations, and information for the epilepsy community. On November 6, the families will enjoy the entire day at Disneyland in Anaheim, California. The experience will conclude on November 7 with a Picnic for all participants of the 2014 Epilepsy Awareness Day. For these families, a trip like this is otherwise out of the question with the financial demands placed on them dealing with illness.

The Chelsea Hutchison Foundation serves individuals, families and communities affected by epilepsy by raising awareness of the common yet little-known condition SUDEP (Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy), by providing support, grants for seizure-response dogs and equipment for prevention of this occurrence, and by creating a safe space and raising awareness within the greater community. The Foundation was founded in 2009 by Doug and Julie Hutchison after the sudden and unexpected death of their daughter, Chelsea.

Currently, the cause of SUDEP is not known, although it is the cause up to 20% of deaths in epileptic individuals[i], and over one-third of deaths among epileptic children.[ii] Although there is little awareness of SUDEP, even among individuals with epilepsy and their families, it is still the leading epilepsy-related cause of death, well above accidents resulting from an epileptic seizure, [iii] and preventive measures can be taken.

For more information about the Chelsea Hutchison Foundation and the 2014 Epilepsy Awareness Day at Disneyland, please contact Julie Hutchison at ChelseasLegacy@aol.com or visit the website: www.ChelseaHutchisonFoundation.org. If you would like to donate to to enhance these family's trips further, we would welcome that. Click here if you wish to donate to that project.

Please know that no funds from Seizure-Response Dogs for those with Epilepsy will be used for the Disneyland trips.

Here is an update for this project. We can’t thank you enough for continuing to support and contribute as many of you do. The stories we receive from those we’ve helped will warm your heart. Because of you and others like you, we are able to get the help directly into the hands of those who need it.

CHF just paid its 62nd grant for a seizure-response dog and has now provided 212 life-saving movement monitors across the US. Having lost Chelsea to a seizure through the night, we are determined to make sure everyone who needs our help receives it.

Comedy for Canines took place on May 2, 2014. This is one of our two large annual events. Comedy for Canines was our 5th Annual Spring Gala and the feedback was spectacular. We plan to continue this event as many felt this was the perfect mix. Everyone ended their evening with hysterical entertainment. We had three remarkable individuals and their families talk about the difference their seizure-response dog has made in their lives. There wasn’t a dry eye in the place. One amazing woman by the name of Diana stated to our crowd that not only does her seizure-response dog alert and respond to her seizures, but just a few days prior had summoned emergency help when she suffered a heart attack. She was alone that evening – her husband was traveling. Roxy realized what was going on and sounded an alarm and in minutes, emergency help arrived. Diana felt, without a doubt, that Roxy had saved her life that evening.

Watch for STOMP! Out Epilepsy and SUDEP Awareness Walk which will take place in several locations across the United States this September. This is also the 5th Annual Awareness Walk – formerly called Chelsea’s Epilepsy Walk for SUDEP Awareness. Known locations at this time are Colorado, Missouri, California, Virginia, Texas, Kansas and Illinois. We would love you to join us at one of these walks if you are nearby. If not, we will be posting virtual walking and team opportunities!!

We are proud to let you know that we just provided our 59th seizure-response dog grant. We cannot express our gratitude for the generous support you have provided.

The Chelsea Hutchison Foundation (CHF) is a leader in providing grants for seizure response dogs and in placing monitoring equipment in the home, allowing families throughout the country access to a service they may otherwise miss. When formed in 2009, CHF was the first organization in the United States to provide grants for seizure response dogs, and continues today to provide the highest level of funding amongst other organizations.

In addition to our Globalgiving campaigns, CHF holds two major fundraisers each year. On, May 2, 2014, we will hold its annual gala at The Curtis Ballroom located at Comedy Works South in Greenwood Village, CO. This year, our theme is Comedy for Canines and our headliner for the evening will be Kevin Fitzgerald, best known for his 10 seasons on the popular Animal Planet show, Emergency Vets. Kevin is a great comedian and his passion for making people laugh is surpassed only by his unwavering dedication to all creatures great and small. If you are in the area, we would love you to join us. For more information or to register, please visit www.ComedyforCanines.org.

Every fall, the Chelsea Hutchison Foundations hosts STOMP! (formerly Chelsea's Epilepsy Walk for SUDEP Awareness), an epilepsy walk for Epilepsy and SUDEP awareness. The fundraiser is currently held in six cities across the country (Littleton, CO, Wichita, KS, WInchester, VA, Woodbridge, VA, Eldon, MO, Northfield, IL), and expands to new cities every year. Nine to ten cities are expected to be added this year alone. Watch for details. There may be an organized walk near you!

Thank you again so much for your continued support! You are making a big difference

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